Holder for artificial sets of teeth



Nov. 13 1923. I 11,473,673

. v E. J. ELSAS HOLDER FOR ARTIFICIAL SETS Oi TEETH Filed June 17 1922 Patented Nov. 13, 1923.

ETE TATES EDWARD JACOB ELSAS, OF SCOTT CITY, KANSAS.

HOLDER FOR ARTIFICIAL SETS OF TEETH.

Application filed June 17, 1922. Serial No. 569,033.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I Enwnno JACOB ELsAs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Scott City, in the county of Scott and State of Kansas, have invented a new and useful Holder for Artificial Sets of Teeth, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to artificial teeth, and more particularly to holders therefor.

The object of the invention is to provide simple and efficient mechanical means for securely holding sets of artificial teeth in correct position independently of suction or gravity.

Another object is to provide means of this character which will successfully and comfortal'ily support sets of artificial teeth in months not adapted to retain the ordinary type of plate.

Another object is to so construct a holder of this character that more perfect articulation in addition to comfort and security is obtained, and which clears all tissues in the usual activities of the mouth.

lVith the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, may be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings lfiigure 1 represents a perspective view of two sets of teeth with this improved holder shown applied.

,liig. isa side elevation of one of the holders embodying this invention.

Fig. 3 is a similar view showing a slightly different form of holder.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the holder shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view, and

Fig. 6 is a detail plan of the device shown in Fig. 5.

In the embodiment illustrated, two sets of artificial teeth 1 and 2 are shown connected by two holders 5 and and which support said sets in natural and comfortable positions and prevent all danger of their dropping out of place.

'lwo holders are employed for connecting the sets of teeth, and are constructed exactly of these holders comprises a substantially U-shape'd spring member (5 composed of fine tempered best spring metal gold plated.

By constructing these springs of this metal, great resiliency and long life will'be insured. The member 6 is provided at one end with an upwardly extending finger 'T and at its other end with a. lateral finger 9 extending in a plane at right angles to the finger 7. The finger 7 is designed to enter the lower edge of the upper set of teeth while the laterally extending finger 9 enters the lower set from the inner face thereof as shown at 11, said finger 9 extending transversely of the lower set of teeth 2. The lower half of each of these spring members is slightly twisted out of alinement with its upper half as is shown clearly in Fig. 5 in order that the short horizontal finger 9 will be held engaged with the set 2. The upward pressure of the upper arm of the U-shaped spring operates to retain the finger 7 securely in )osition within the upper artificial teeth rim. ne advantage of this construction is that no riveting or rigid fastening of the springs to the teeth plates or rims is required to secure them in position, thereby providing for their easy assembling or removal from the plates, as well as extending far back to back to near the dead center or pivot of the jaws themselves. There is not back room enough outside the tooth rows to accommodate or permit an adequate or e'lficient hinge motion in imitation of unison with the natural action of the human jaws by an design of U-shaped springs holding the upper and lower plates. The holders of this invention are set back in the sides of the gullet sutliciently for their special form to give or permit the duly natural dental articulation or hinge movements of the mouth.

Another advantage is that the vertical spring end or finger 7 which engage the upper rims or plate 1 will hold said plate in natural position while the lower jaw recedes in action in a hinge-like motion upon the horizontally disposed lower fingers 9. This hinge-like motion is permitted by the bending of the spring, which is extremely flexible and resilient.

It is also obvious that the full upper bridge or artificial hard plate used for suction which is objectionable for many set 1, will prevent the spring from dropping out should it become broken to avoid all possibility of the user swallowing it.

If desired, a tube 12may be inserted in the opening in the upper set- 1 in which the finger carried by the holder is designed to be mounted. This tube 12 is preferably provided in one side wall with a longitudinally extending channel 13 which enlarges the inner diameter of the tube and the finger 7 may be equipped at its end with a laterally extending lug so that-when the finger is inserted in the tube 12-, this hi 7 will enter the channel 13 and passfreely through the tube, and the turning of the finger will operate to position this lug 7 against the end of the tube as shown in Fig. 5, so as to prevent all possibility of the end of the spring being disengaged from the plate 1.

The great objection to artificial plate holders is that they are usually placed outside the sets of teeth, and when so positioned they not only abrade the tissues of the mouth, but operate to catch food and hold it between the outside of the plates and the cheeks and lips of the user so displacing the plates. The holders herein shown and described are located inside the lines of the teeth and will remain in correct posit-ion even in case of breakage, without requiring any permanent fastening to the plates, and which permits them to'be instantly removed for cleaning or other purposes. Moreover, the springs herein shown and described will not clamp or bind any part of the mouth and hermit the natural articulation ofv the jaws.

1. The combination with upper and lower plates or sets of artificial teeth; of connectors resiliently and flexibly connecting said plates and located on the inner faces of said plates.

2. The combination with upper and lower plates or sets of artificial teeth, of connectors for said plates comprising a pair of substantially U-shaped spring elements having lateral extensions at their ends for detachably engaging the rims of said plates on the inner faces.

A connector for artificial sets of teeth comprising a substai'itially U-shaped member having lateral extensions at the ends thereof, with one arm bent laterally out of alinement with the other, said extensions being adapted to enter apertures in the rims in the sets of teeth to be connected.

4. A connector for artificial sets of teeth comprising a substantially U-shaped fine wire element having its ends bent laterally one in one direction, and one in another and adapted to enter apertures in the rims of the sets of teeth to be connected.

A connector for sets of artificial teeth comprising a substantiallyLl-shaped resili ent element, one arm having its end bent laterally in one direction, and the other having a. hook-like extension at its free end extending in the other direction.

In testimony that I. claim the foregoing as my own, 1 have hereto afiixed my signature in the presence of two Witnesses,

EDWARD JACOB ELSAS. Witnesses ALFRED BRAINARD, ANDREW BROWNYARD. 

